The Los Angeles Lakers concluded their regular season on a high note. With a 124-108 blowout win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers claimed the eighth seed. But their clash with the Pelicans is far from over, as they are set to meet again in the upcoming play-in tournament on Tuesday. And if the Lakers were to repeat their success, they would advance to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs to face the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets.

In a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith called out the Lakers for trying to tank in the upcoming play-in game against the Pelicans. “Anthony Davis said there’s no question he will be available for Tuesday night. But Tuesday night ain’t here yet; we shall see.” AD left the season finale six minutes early with a back spasm. However, he’s been optimistic about playing Tuesday night. But SAS believes that the Lakers could use this as an excuse to rest AD so they can avoid playing Denver in the first round.

“There’s an abundance of excuses that can be propped up between now and Tuesday night, so your horses ain’t available to you, and as a result of that, the personnel ain’t in place, and it’s rational to lose it to the New Orleans Pelicans and ultimately play it for the eighth seed so you can avoid them [Denver Nuggets]. I’m saying it’s possible,” added Stephen A. Smith.

Denver has been a formidable foe for the Lakers, handing them eight straight losses, including a clean sweep in last season’s Western Conference Finals. However, a strategic move to intentionally lose in the play-in game could change their playoff fate. By doing so, the Lakers would be positioned to meet the top-seeded OKC Thunder in the first round—a team they’ve consistently outplayed this season, securing three consecutive wins against them. However, while this plan offers a seemingly easier path, it also carries the risk of backfiring.

Why the Lakers shouldn’t tank in the play-in game vs. the Pelicans

If the Lakers stumble in the play-in game, their path to the playoffs could potentially get more challenging. They’ll need to overcome either the Sacramento Kings or the Golden State Warriors in a must-win matchup to secure a spot in the first round. Sacramento has been a thorn in the Lakers’ side, winning eight of their last nine encounters, including a clean-season series sweep this year. On the other hand, the Warriors have also proven to be a tough matchup, winning their last three meetings this season.

Moreover, the Lakers are likely to meet the Denver Nuggets at some point in the playoffs. While the Phoenix Suns and the Minnesota Timberwolves are formidable opponents, the Nuggets would likely be favored against either team. Therefore, it would be wiser to face them now, when the Lakers are relatively healthy than later in the playoffs when a 39-year-old James will be more worn out, like he appeared to be last season while Denver swept the Lakers in four games in the Conference Finals.

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